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Sunday, July 21, 2013

Chicago - Pearl Jam concert

Back in march Matt told me we were going to Chicago with Heath and meg for a pearl jam concert. I told him he was crazy, he could go without me. He quickly wore me down bc ever since my work trip there last year I'd wanted to go back. But I was not excited abt the concert. And I'm pretty sure I told everyone that! So we flew out from little rock Friday morning. Our original flight was for 6 am putting us in Chicago by 8 am but they cancelled that flight and put us on a 10:30 flight. We were checking into our hotel abt 2. So we lost 1/2 a day but we still made the best of it! We immediately went to Giordano's for some deep dish pizza. Ahh that place is SOO good! And then we booked it to wrigley field to "pre-party" for the concert.

The concert. Ok. I owned a PJ cd in high school. I think everyone owned "ten". But I haven't listened to it since then! Matt's love for PJ is something I've never experienced. I just didn't understand it. But I am now closer to getting it. It was a GREAT show. And their following... We decided they hit "band mecca" bc they were able to last until their fans reached an age that they could support concert/merchandise purchases. IE: their fans are middle aged white men. And I mean that in the nicest way possible! It is like a cult following. Everywhere we went Friday we saw TONS of PJ tshirts. These fans wear the band tshirt to the concert! So we got to wrigley abt 4:30 for the 7:30 concert. We lucked up with a table at a bar connected to the stadium. We entered the stadium abt 7 and they came on abt 8:30. They opened with Release. And I understood the following. They were amazing. It took me back and made me remember why I bought their cd all those years ago. At 9 they stopped the show to evacuate the stadium for the approaching storm. Matt and I put on our ponchos and toughed it out. They finally started back playing at midnight. A 3 hour rain delay!! And they played until 2. Except for 2 or 3 new songs that I'd never heard it was a great show. They do it right. No dancers, no light shows, no crap. Just a band and awesome music. I don't think I've ever seen so many people in one place. Not an empty seat in the house. All standing. All clapping/jumping/singing in unison. It really was an experience ill never forget. We laid our heads on our pillows about 3 am. And I sang rocking in the free world for the rest of the weekend.

The stadium was in the outfield with floor seating in the outfield. The only section of the entire stadium without people was the infield. We're talking something like 50,000 people. Not counting the ones outside that didn't have a ticket. Or the ones on the roof tops behind the stadium. Crazy!

Saturday started with lunch; after the 3 am bed time I had to catch up on sleep! Followed by a walk to millennium park, on to navy pier, back to the river and a boat tour.

We knew Harry connick jr was in town and seriously considered canceling our dinner reservations to go but we were SO sweaty with no time to shower so we skipped. But this is where he was performing!!

Then we sprinted to get ready to make our dinner. Morton's Steakhouse did not disappoint. And the chocolate molton cake that was on the house nearly sent me into a chocolate coma. I felt bad not paying for it bc it was worth every cent of whatever it cost!

After dinner we headed over to the John Hancock bldg. everyone told us not to pay to go to the observatory; but instead go up another floor to the bar. Apparently the women's bathroom from the bar has the best view of the city. And everyone was correct! I mean; if you're going to pay to see the city then you might as well get drinks out of the deal, right? :) in the first pick you can see the lady behind me washing her hands. :) Matt was unhappy that the men's restroom didn't even have a window! LOL!

After a few drinks we decided we wanted to see Buckingham fountain at night. So we got a cab and headed down. We arrived at 11:15. The fountain turns off at 11. Eric fail. So here's the fountain after it closes! You can barely see it...

We flew back into little rock today and headed over to the Clinton library to see the Oscar de la Renta collection.

We also squeezed in a little Clinton history.

So very glad Matt asked me to go with him. And I admitted today that I wouldn't mind going to another one. Especially bc they didn't play my favorite song, better man. So I guess I'll be traveling the US chasing pearl jam until I hear them play that!!